Systems and methods for improving telecommunications device experiences

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for providing a better user experience and provider profitability. An exemplary system includes a telecommunications device subject to a cellular service plan from a cellular carrier. The telecommunications device includes an application program that gathers device usage data and determines whether the current cellular service plan is the best service plan based on gathered usage data. If a current cellular service plan is not the best service plan, based on the gathered usage data, then cellular service plans from the current cellular service provider or other service providers are measured against the gathered device-usage data to determine the best available service plan.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/210,014 filed Mar. 13, 2014, which claims priority to U.S.provisional patent application No. 61/800,017, entitled “A CellularApplication for Enabling Carriers to Offer and Enter Into New Contractbased on Expected Consumer Profitability” and filed on Mar. 15, 2013.Application Ser. Nos. 14/210,014 and 61/800,017 are fully incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

A user who is not properly matched to his cellular plan increases riskto the service provider that the user will refuse to pay his bill, whenit is higher than expected and includes charges that the user does notunderstand. Also, a customer faced with apparently mysterious chargesmay place excessive calls to customer care, thereby driving up thosecosts. Ultimately, a customer who is unhappy about high bills that hedoes not understand may switch to another carrier.

When cell phone users are looking for other plans, they can only receiveinformation about the plans a cellular carrier might have that are basedonly on public information, such as a credit score. Credit scoreinformation provides only a small part of the total information thatwould permit a full evaluation of the desirability of acquiring aparticular user by a prospective cellular carrier.

Thus, the user can find other service plans but has no idea how thoseplans would or would not save him money. Accordingly, the usersfrequently take the easiest path and recontract with their currentcarrier.

When a cellular service provider is trying to attract potential(dissatisfied) users it does not know if a user is likely to be highlyprofitable, slightly profitable, or will cause a net loss to thecarrier. Abusive use of unlimited plans is an example, but certainlyonly one of many examples, of costs that might result in a customercausing a net loss for the cellular carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanyingfigures. The use of the same reference numbers in different figuresindicates similar or identical items or features.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment including atelecommunications device configured with an application program formedin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a component-level view of a telecommunications deviceequipped with an application program formed in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a communication flow pictorial as it relates to components ofthe system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a processing flow diagram between the telecommunicationsdevice and a remote server (CR1) as it relates to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a communication flow pictorial as it relates to components ofthe system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a “Debug mode” combined in some ofembodiments with offer realization.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow diagram as it relates to FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

This disclosure describes, in part, an application program implementedat a telecommunications device to perform a determination of whetherother telecommunication (i.e., cellular) plans provide a better value tothe user of the telecommunications device and providers oftelecommunications services.

In various embodiments, the telecommunications device receives anapplication program that includes cellular plan information for one ormore cellular carriers (domestic). The application program analyzesusage/operational (including network coverage info) information of thetelecommunications device relative to publicly available cellular plansand/or generates a customized cellular plan(s) by applying theusage/operational information to a participating carrier-designedalgorithm(s). The usage/operational information of thetelecommunications device may include a wide variety of usageinformation, such as cellular carrier use during operation, signalstrength of the cellular carriers accessed during usage volume of callsand data used within each billing period, locations where usageoccurred, etc. As a result of the analysis, the application programoutputs to the user of the telecommunications device information aboutwhether there are better cellular plans available for the user'sparticular usage. The application program then may allow the user toactivate one of these suggested alternate cellular plans, either via athe application itself (for the participating carriers), by a networkconnection with the particular cellular carrier or by performingactivation at a remote site, such as a store.

In various embodiments, the application program of thetelecommunications device may send packets of information to acontrolling server via a network connection. The packets of informationrelate to the application program process described above. Thecontrolling server will analyze the information within the packets todetermine whether the algorithm(s) performed properly and determine areason for any improper performance of the algorithm(s).

Exemplary Environment and Devices

In one embodiment, an exemplary system 20 includes a plurality of usertelecommunications devices 26, at least one server (CR1) 32 andoptionally one or more participating carriers 28 that are all incommunication over some form of network 30 or combination of networks(e.g., telecommunications, public (Internet) or private). Optionally,the system 20 includes one or more non-participating carriers 36, a planactivation location (e.g., a store front associated with one of theparticipating carriers 28) 38 or a third-party map coverage system 39.

The telecommunications devices 26 are currently operating under apreviously selected telecommunications plan. The telecommunicationsdevice 26 manually or automatically receives an application programupdates from a CR1 32. The CR1 32 generates the application programafter having retrieved public plan information for participating andnon-participating carriers 28, 36 and having received proprietaryeligibility algorithms from the participating carriers 28. After apredefined event, periodically or just at random, the telecommunicationsdevice 26 executes the application program. The application programretrieves a plurality of operational (usage) information from thetelecommunications device 26 and runs that retrieved information throughthe proprietary eligibility algorithms and other algorithms that relateto the retrieved public plan information. The application programdetermines whether there are other cellular plans (public or customizedoffers) that would provide a greater benefit for the associated user.The results of this determination are presented to the user in a numberof different ways.

In a stealth mode of operation, the user does not send any of theoperational information to any entity over the network 30. Alldata/information gathered at the telecommunications device 26 remains atthe telecommunications device 26. If the user desires to activate acustomized offer that was included in the application program results,then the user has the option to perform the activation by sending theuser's plan choice with a verification code to CR1 32. The user also hasthe option not to send his selection and just show the device screenwith the offer, his subscriber number and the verification code at astore of his selected carrier. The application program generates theverification code for each presented plan according to a unique codeincluded in the application program. If CR1 32 checks that theverification code is proper (i.e., CR1 32 performs code verification,for a description seehttp://pecos.ices.utexas.edu/research/activities/code-verification/),then CR1 32 informs the respective participating carrier 28 of the userchoice, if the user had preferred to complete his choice by theapplication. The participating carrier 28 then completes the activationof the new plan. Alternatively, the user may present the user's planchoice with the verification code to the plan activation location 38associated with the participating carrier 28. The plan activationlocation 38 sends the user's plan choice with the verification code toCR1 32 and the process is completed as described above or CR1 32 sends avalid offer signal back to the plan activation location 38, which thencompletes activation directly with its carrier 28.

In a debug mode of operation, upon user approval, operationalinformation of the telecommunications device 26 and application programinformation, data, and results are sent to CR1 32. Then, CR1 32 analyzesthe sent operational information to determine if the application programis operating properly. CR1 32 attempts to determine a reason for anydetermined operational failure.

These modes of operation and the information used by the applicationprogram will be described in more detail below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the telecommunications device 26 includes aprocessor 40 that is in signal communication with a user interface 42, amemory device 44, a communication component 46 (i.e., radio(s)), alocation sensor 48, and a signal strength sensor 52 (optional). Thememory device 44 includes a plan option application program thatincludes a CR1 algorithm(s) and authentication information 60,operational information 62 and public plan and/or customized planinformation 64.

The public plan and/or customized plan information 64 includes planspublicly available by searching the Internet or customize planinformation previously provided to CR1 32 by the particularparticipating carrier 28.

The operational information 62 includes technical information,geographical information and usage information. The usage information(i.e., usage statistics) for the telecommunications device 26 includesinformation received from the processor 40 and/or the other components,such as information received from external sources via the communicationcomponent 46, signal strength information from the signal strengthsensor 52 (which may be included in the processor 40 or thecommunication component 46), position information from the locationsensor 48 and/or other components. Exemplary usage information includesnumber and length of time of calls and SMS messages, data usage, callsto a care center, calls to international destinations, etc.

Exemplary technical information includes information regarding theuser's current cellular plan (e.g., cellular provider, current plan,number of minutes used, time left on current plan, etc.). Exemplarygeographic information includes signal strength maps for the currentcellular provider and other cellular providers, which may be retrievedfrom the third-party coverage maps system 39. The technical informationincludes the user's contract details recorded at the time of contractexecution. Alternatively, the application program either interrogatesthe user or analyzes other information without bothering the user to getservice contract information that includes the contract expiration dateinformation among other information. The application program gathersusage information.

The CR1 algorithm(s) and authentication information 60 is informationprovided by CR1 32. The CR1 32 provides updates of the algorithm(s) andauthentication information 60 whenever updates are available. The CR1algorithm(s) and authentication information 60 includes algorithmsprovided by each of the participating carriers 28. Each algorithmprovided by of the participating carriers 28 is a proprietary programdesigned or parameters defined by each of the participating carriers 28for analyzing the operational information 62 in order to determinewhether there is a current plan provided by the particular participatingcarrier 28 or the participating carrier 28 can generate a customizedplan that is financially beneficial to the customer based on thetechnical and usage information based on that data. The CR1 algorithm(s)and authentication information 60 also includes some form ofauthentication code.

In various embodiments, the telecommunications device 26 may be any sortof device capable of cellular or wireless network communication, such asa cellular phone, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA),a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a media center, a workstation, etc. The telecommunications device 26 may be associated with asubscription to telecommunication services of a network operator (i.e.,the current cellular carrier 27) of the network 30.

In some embodiments, the telecommunications device 26 includes anoperating system that may be any sort of telecommunications deviceoperating system, such as an iOS®, an Android® operating system, aWindows® operating system, or a Unix-based operating system. In someembodiments, the operating system may expose or otherwise make availableany of device information, network information, or user preferences.

In some embodiments, the processor 40 is a central processing unit(CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both CPU and GPU, or anyother sort of processing unit.

In various embodiments, the memory 44 is volatile (such as RAM),nonvolatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or some combination ofthese. The telecommunications device 26 may also include additional datastorage devices (removable and/or nonremovable) such as, for example,magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Tangible computer-readable mediamay include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and nonremovable mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storage of information, suchas computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, orother data. The memory 44, removable storage and nonremovable storageare all examples of computer-readable storage media. Computer-readablestorage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flashmemory, or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks(DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium that can be used to store the desired information and which canbe accessed by the telecommunications device 26. Any such tangiblecomputer-readable media may be part of the telecommunications device 26.

In some embodiments, the communication component 46 (i.e., radio)includes any sort of radio known in the art. For example, communicationcomponent 46 may include a radio transceiver that performs the functionof transmitting and receiving radio frequency communications via anantenna. The communication component 46 may facilitate wirelessconnectivity between the telecommunications device 26 and various celltowers, base stations and/or access points of the network 30. Inaddition, the telecommunications device 26 may also include a wirelesscommunication transceiver and a near field antenna for communicatingover unlicensed wireless IP networks, such as local wireless datanetworks and personal area networks (e.g., Bluetooth or near fieldcommunication (NFC) networks) that may provide a direct connection tothe Internet 34.

In some embodiments, the user interface 42 has output devices thatinclude any sort of output devices known in the art, such as a display(e.g., a liquid crystal display), speakers, a vibrating mechanism, or atactile feedback mechanism. Output devices also include ports for one ormore peripheral devices, such as headphones, peripheral speakers, or aperipheral display.

In various embodiments, the user interface 42 may also include inputdevices that include any sort of input devices known in the art. Forexample, input devices may include a camera, a microphone, akeyboard/keypad, or a touch-sensitive display. A keyboard/keypad may bea pushbutton numeric dialing pad (such as on a typicaltelecommunications device), a multikey keyboard (such as a conventionalQWERTY keyboard), or one or more other types of keys or buttons, and mayalso include a joystick-like controller and/or designated navigationbuttons, or the like.

In various embodiments, the location sensor 48 includes a globalpositioning system (GPS) that has functionality and logic capable ofwirelessly communicating with a GPS system to receive GPS information,such as GPS coordinates, from the GPS system. The GPS exposes those GPSlocations to the processor 40. In another embodiment, the locationsensor 48 attains rough location information based on location of thecellular tower that the device is currently communicating with.

In one embodiment, the telecommunications device 26 is originallyprovided with the application program already installed or theapplication program may be installed as part of a customization processperformed by the telecommunications device manufacturer or by thecurrent cellular carrier.

In some embodiments, the CR1 32 (i.e., a server computer) may be an edgedevice of the core network and may communicate with another device ofthe core network, such as a gateway GPRS (general packet radio service)support node (GGSN), a serving gateway (SGW), or packet data networkgateway (PGW). The access networks of the network 30 may each beassociated with a specific geographic area (e.g., a cell, a macrocell, amicrocell, a femtocell, etc.). In some embodiments, the network 30 maybe a cellular network having a spectrum to allocate for cellularcommunications.

Exemplary Processes

FIG. 3 illustrates a data flow pictorial and FIG. 4 illustrates a dataflowchart of an exemplary process 70 performed by components of thesystem 20 as it relates to the stealth mode of operation. Each operationof the process represents a sequence of operations that can beimplemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In thecontext of software, the operations represent computer-executableinstructions stored on one or more computer-readable storage media that,when executed by one or more processors, perform the recited operations.Generally, computer-executable instructions include routines, programs,objects, components, data structures, and the like that performparticular functions or implement particular abstract data types. Theorder in which the operations are described is not intended to beconstrued as a limitation, and any number of the described operationscan be combined in any order and/or in parallel to implement theprocesses.

First, at a block 94, the plan option application program (i.e., thealgorithm(s) and authentication information 60 or the public plan and/orcustomized plan information 64) is sent from the CR1 32 is downloadablethrough another source (e.g., play store) to the device 26 along acommunication path 78 between the device 26 and CR1 32. In parallel withthe step performed at block 94, operational information of the device 26is obtained at a block 92. Next, at a block 96, the processor 40executes the CR1 algorithm(s) to calculate whether any of the publicplans when compared with the operational information 62 provide a viableoption for the current user. This may be as simple as comparing thenumber of minutes to what those costs might look like in each of thepublic plans. This may also include a coverage analysis performed bycomparing location information of the device 26 to coverage mapsavailable publicly or received from the third-party coverage mapssystem(s) 39. Also, the executed CR1 algorithm(s) calculate whether anyof the associated participating carriers 28 can produce a customizedplan that is eligible based on a comparison or an analysis of theoperational information 62. In one embodiment, production of acustomized plan includes determining an average customer cash cost peruser (CCPU). The CCPU uses a variety of the operational information 62in order to determine the costs that may be incurred by the carrier forthe associated user. Some of the operational information 62 that theCCPU uses includes percentage of bad debt information, carrier tenureinformation, calls to customer care or contract history, derivedinformation, such as suspension history or any other information thecarrier believes adds cost. The determination by the CR1 algorithm(s)whether a customized plan can be offered also analyzes an associatednetwork coverage map associated with the user location information,international calling information, information regarding phones the userhas previously owned, other technical information and/or other carriers'plans.

At a block 98, the user is presented with any public and/or customizedplans that are determined better than the user's current plan or arejust considered a good offer. At a block 100, offer realization occursafter a user decides that they wish to activate one of the presentedplans. In one embodiment, the offer realization occurs between CR1 32and the device 26 along a communication path 78 once the user has made aselection from a graphical user interface presented on the userinterface device 42. Upon selection of one of the presented plans,information regarding the selected plan and authentication informationare sent to CR1 32. The authentication information (code) is calculatedby the application program (i.e., algorithm) based on the previouslyreceived unique authentication code as well as other information, suchas the current phone number associated with the user or informationrelated directly to the selected plan. Then, CR1 32 analyzes thereceived authentication information to determine whether it is valid. Ifthe authentication information is determined to be valid, CR1 32 sendsinstructions to the participating carrier 28 associated with theselected plan. Then, that participating carrier 28 activates the newlyselected plan. Activation of the newly selected plan may include sendingan instruction to the user of the device 26 to proceed to an affiliatedstore, such as the plan activation location 38, in order to pick up anew phone that was part of the newly selected plan.

Another offer realization includes presenting instructions on the userinterface device 42 (i.e., a mapping program) to proceed to the(nearest) plan activation location 38 that is associated with theparticipating carrier 28. At the plan activation location 38 the userprovides either directly or indirectly the authentication informationand selected plan information to a local computing device (communicationpath) that is in data communication with CR1 32 along communication path82. CR1 32 then performs the verification step as described in theprevious embodiment. CR1 32 provides a positive verification along thecommunication path 82 back to the plan activation location 38. The planactivation location 38 or CR1 32 communicates with the participatingcarrier 26 in order to inform them of the selected plan upon positiveverification.

Also shown in FIG. 3 is a communication path 74 between theparticipating carriers 28 and CR1 32. Along the communication path 74,each of the participating carriers 28 provides their proprietaryalgorithm as described above. CR1 32 may also pull public planinformation from Web sites associated with the participating carriers 28along the communication path 74 and pull public plan information fromWeb sites associated with the non-participating carriers 36 along acommunication path 76.

FIG. 5 illustrates a data flow pictorial and FIG. 6 illustrates a dataflowchart of an exemplary process 140 performed by components of thesystem 20 as it relates to the debug mode of operation. In oneembodiment, the user is provided a choice of which mode to operate in.If the user selects the debug mode, the user may be provided with someform of benefit. In the debug mode of operation, the steps as describedabove with regard to FIG. 4 occur without change. However, while theprocess steps 92-100 are occurring the processor 40 is instructed by adebug application program to send a variety of information to CR1 32 foranalysis along the communication path 78, see block 142. The variety ofinformation sent to CR1 32 includes, but is not limited to, computerinformation, application program information, selected offerinformation, operational information, presented offers, and/or ascreenshot(s) presented by the user interface 42 at various stages ofoperation. The computer information may include information regardingthe device 26, the operating system executed on the device 26, amount ofmemory available, amount of free memory available, version numbers ofthe device 26, the operating system and/or information regarding otherconcurrently running software programs. The application programinformation includes versions of the algorithms included within theapplication program and/or memory usage associated with the applicationprogram. The selected offer information includes details of the offerselected and/or the verification code associated with presented orselected offer or with the algorithm used to generate the customizeoffers. At a block 144, CR1 32 analyzes the data received from thedevice 26 to determine whether the application program and associatedalgorithms are operating properly. In other words, CR1 32 determines ifthe application program running on the telecommunications device 26 isdoing exactly what it's designed to do. If CR1 32 determines that theapplication program and associated algorithms are not operatingproperly, CR1 32 determines the reason for the problem and any possiblesolutions, at a block 146.

Other Embodiments

In one embodiment, the application program compares usage informationagainst the service plan terms and informs the user about accumulatedcharges either periodically, each time a threshold of service charges isexceeded, or each time a rate of accumulation of service charges isexceeded. In one embodiment, the application program provides aqualitative indicator, showing if charge creation is low, normal, high,or very high (for example, in the case of data usage while roaminginternationally). For example, an indicator icon is presented as greenfor low usage, yellow for normal usage, red for high usage, and flashingred for very high usage. Other graphical objects, colors, effects, etc.may be used for conveying similar differences in usage.

In one embodiment, if the user has given permission, then calls tocarriers other than his current carrier cause the application program toinitiate the request for bids process described above.

In one embodiment, the application program informs the user through apop-up display when the charge accumulation rate exceeds normal usage.In a further embodiment, the application program gives a warning aboutthe generated calls, displays a warning to the user of the expense thatwill incur, and/or gives the user the opportunity to continue the usageby pressing a button. In another embodiment, a code must be entered toapprove the expensive usage, thereby preventing anyone using the cellphone from incurring the charges, without the consent of the user.

Monitored financial expenses might include: usage overage, roamingcharges, international roaming charges, monthly recurring charges,one-time charges (like ringtone purchases), premium services, 411 calls,etc.

Also, in one embodiment, the service contract includes a provision thatthe carrier will charge only for extra services for which the user wasadvised of the expense, by way of the application. This provision willhelp to avoid expensive disputes and foster customer loyalty.

CONCLUSION

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather,the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms ofimplementing the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: storing, with a memory of atelecommunications device, a plan option application program comprisingpublic plan information associated with one or more public plans;obtaining, with a processor of the telecommunications device,operational information associated with the telecommunications device,the operational information comprising at least one of locationinformation; determining, with the processor, whether any of the one ormore public plans provide a greater benefit to a user of thetelecommunications device based on an analysis of at least a portion ofoperational information using one or more algorithms, the analysiscomprising at least of a comparison of the location information tocoverage maps available publicly or received from one or morethird-party coverage maps systems; determining whether the user iseligible for any customized plans based on an analysis of at least aportion of the operational information using at least one of thealgorithms; and at a user interface of the telecommunications device,presenting at least one of the one or more of the public plans thatprovide a greater benefit to the user or the customized plans determinedeligible; wherein the one or more algorithms are associated with one ormore participating cellular carriers.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: generating, using at least one sensor of thetelecommunications device, the operational information; wherein theoperational information further comprises signal strength information.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational information furthercomprises roaming usage incurred over a predetermined time period. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein presenting further comprises providing averification code to enable the user to at least one of complete acontracting process and activate a selected plan.
 5. The method of claim4, further comprising: receiving, at a remote server, a user selectedplan and the verification code; determining, with the remote server,based on the user selected plan and the verification code that the userselected plan is valid; and sending, with the remote server, a plancompletion instruction to a participating carrier associated with theuser selected plan, if the user selected plan was determined valid. 6.The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving, at a remoteserver, a user selected plan and the verification code from a planactivation location; determining, with the remote server, based on theuser selected plan and the verification code that the user selected planis valid; and sending, with the remote server, a plan completioninstruction to the plan activation location for the participatingcarrier associated with the user selected plan.
 7. The method of claim1, further comprising: sending at least one of operational information,displayed plans or selected plan information to a remote server via atransceiver of the telecommunications device.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the selected plan information comprises one or more screenshotsof a graphical user interface presented by the user interface.
 9. Atelecommunications device comprising: a user interface; a processor incommunication with the user interface; a memory, in communication withthe processor, the memory configured to store a plan option applicationprogram, the plan option application program comprising public planinformation and one or more algorithms associated with one or moreparticipating cellular carriers, the plan option application programbeing configured to cause the processor to: a) obtain operationalinformation of the telecommunications device, the operationalinformation comprising at least one of location information; b)determine whether any of the public plans provide a greater benefit to auser of the telecommunications device based on an analysis of at least aportion of operational information, the analysis comprising at least ofa comparison of the location information to coverage maps availablepublicly or received from one or more third-party coverage maps systems;c) determine that the user is eligible for one or more customized plansbased at least in part on an analysis of the operational informationusing the algorithms associated with the one or more participatingcellular carriers; and d) present at least one of one or more of thepublic plans that provide a greater benefit to the user or the one ormore of the customized plans via the user interface.
 10. The device ofclaim 9, further comprising at least one sensor configured to generatethe operational information.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the atleast one sensor comprises: a location sensor configured to providelocation information for the telecommunications device; and a signalstrength sensor configured to provide signal strength information forthe telecommunications device; wherein the operational informationcomprises signal strength information associated with locationinformation when the telecommunications device is in use.
 12. the deviceof claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: determinethat a current action being preformed by the telecommunications deviceis incurring extra costs to the user, based on a cellular plan currentlyassociated with the user; and initiating step d).
 13. The device ofclaim 9, wherein the operational information comprises informationregarding roaming usage incurred over a previous time period.
 14. Thedevice of claim 9, wherein the plan option application program isfurther configured to cause the processor to: retrieve informationregarding an expiration date of a currently active cellular serviceplan; and perform steps a) through c) at a predetermined time prior tothe expiration date.
 15. The device of claim 9, wherein the operationalinformation comprises at least one of a number of minutes or data usedin a predetermined period.
 16. The device of claim 9, wherein the planoption application program is further configured to cause the processorto: display plans via the user interface; receive a plan selection fromthe user via the user interface; and provide a verification code toenable the user to complete a contracting process and to activate theselected plan.
 17. The device of claim 16, further comprising: atransceiver in communication with the processor and one or morecommunications networks; wherein the plan option application program isfurther configured to cause the processor to: send at least a portion ofthe operational information, displayed plans, or selected plan to aremote server via the transceiver.